The brain has a powerful ability to remember and connect events separated in time. And now, in that new study in mice published in Neuron, scientists at Columbia’s Zuckerman Institute have cast light on how the brain can form lasting links.
The hippocampus—a small, seahorse-shaped region buried deep in the brain—is an important headquarters for learning and memory. Previous experiments in mice showed that disruption (中断) to the hippocampus leaves the animals with trouble learning to associate two events separated by tens of seconds.
“The traditional view has been that cells in the hippocampus keep up a level of continuous activity to associate such events,” said Dr. Ahmed, co-first author of the study. “Turning these cells off would thus disrupt learning.”
To test this view, the researchers imaged parts of the hippocampus of mice as the animals were exposed to two different stimuli (刺激物): a neutral (神经的) sound followed by a small but unpleasant puff of air. A fifteen-second delay separated the two events. The scientists repeated this experiment across several trials. Over time, the mice learned to associate the sound with the soon-to-follow puff of air. Using advanced microscopy, they recorded the activity of thousands of neurons (神经元) , a type of brain cell, in the animals’ hippocampus over the course of each trial for many days.
“We expected to see continuous neural activity that lasted during the fifteen-second gap, an indication of the hippocampus at work linking the auditory sound and the air puff,” said computational neuroscientist Stefano Fusi, PhD. “But when we began to analyze the data, we saw no such activity.” Instead, the neural activity recorded during the fifteen-second time gap was sparse (稀少的). Only a small number of neurons worked, and they did so seemingly at random.
To understand activity, they had to shift the way they analyzed data and use tools designed to make sense of random processes. Finally, the researchers discovered a complex pattern in the randomness: a style of mental computing that seems to be a remarkably efficient way that neurons store information.
“We were happy to see that the brain doesn’t maintain ongoing activity over all these seconds because that’s not the most efficient way to store information,” said Dr. Ahmed. “The brain seems to have a more efficient way to build this bridge.”
In addition to helping to map the circuitry involved in associative learning, these findings also provide a starting point to more deeply explore disorders, such as panic and post-traumatic stress disorder.
1.What can we learn about the hippocampus?
A.It weakens with the memory decline.
B.It is a brain region crucial for memory.
C.It serves as a tool of learning languages.
D.It is involved in the visual area of the brain.
2.The new study in mice indicates that ______.
A.continuous activity happens as expected
B.no neurons stay active at intervals of 15 seconds
C.a complex pattern helps the brain learn associations
D.neuronal information is stored in well-designed tools
3.From the last two paragraphs, we can infer that the findings ______.
A.inspire deeper explorations of disorders
B.provide evidence for language learning
C.build a bridge between different parts of the brain
D.help map some aspects of a person’s experiences
高三英语阅读理解困难题
The brain has a powerful ability to remember and connect events separated in time. And now, in that new study in mice published in Neuron, scientists at Columbia’s Zuckerman Institute have cast light on how the brain can form lasting links.
The hippocampus—a small, seahorse-shaped region buried deep in the brain—is an important headquarters for learning and memory. Previous experiments in mice showed that disruption (中断) to the hippocampus leaves the animals with trouble learning to associate two events separated by tens of seconds.
“The traditional view has been that cells in the hippocampus keep up a level of continuous activity to associate such events,” said Dr. Ahmed, co-first author of the study. “Turning these cells off would thus disrupt learning.”
To test this view, the researchers imaged parts of the hippocampus of mice as the animals were exposed to two different stimuli (刺激物): a neutral (神经的) sound followed by a small but unpleasant puff of air. A fifteen-second delay separated the two events. The scientists repeated this experiment across several trials. Over time, the mice learned to associate the sound with the soon-to-follow puff of air. Using advanced microscopy, they recorded the activity of thousands of neurons (神经元) , a type of brain cell, in the animals’ hippocampus over the course of each trial for many days.
“We expected to see continuous neural activity that lasted during the fifteen-second gap, an indication of the hippocampus at work linking the auditory sound and the air puff,” said computational neuroscientist Stefano Fusi, PhD. “But when we began to analyze the data, we saw no such activity.” Instead, the neural activity recorded during the fifteen-second time gap was sparse (稀少的). Only a small number of neurons worked, and they did so seemingly at random.
To understand activity, they had to shift the way they analyzed data and use tools designed to make sense of random processes. Finally, the researchers discovered a complex pattern in the randomness: a style of mental computing that seems to be a remarkably efficient way that neurons store information.
“We were happy to see that the brain doesn’t maintain ongoing activity over all these seconds because that’s not the most efficient way to store information,” said Dr. Ahmed. “The brain seems to have a more efficient way to build this bridge.”
In addition to helping to map the circuitry involved in associative learning, these findings also provide a starting point to more deeply explore disorders, such as panic and post-traumatic stress disorder.
1.What can we learn about the hippocampus?
A.It weakens with the memory decline.
B.It is a brain region crucial for memory.
C.It serves as a tool of learning languages.
D.It is involved in the visual area of the brain.
2.The new study in mice indicates that ______.
A.continuous activity happens as expected
B.no neurons stay active at intervals of 15 seconds
C.a complex pattern helps the brain learn associations
D.neuronal information is stored in well-designed tools
3.From the last two paragraphs, we can infer that the findings ______.
A.inspire deeper explorations of disorders
B.provide evidence for language learning
C.build a bridge between different parts of the brain
D.help map some aspects of a person’s experiences
高三英语阅读理解困难题查看答案及解析
The brain has a powerful ability to remember and connect events separated in time. And now, in that new study in mice published in Neuron, scientists at Columbia’s Zuckerman Institute have cast light on how the brain can form lasting links.
The hippocampus-a small, seahorse-shaped region buried deep in the brain-is an important headquarters for learning and memory. Previous experiments in mice showed that disruption (中断) to the hippocampus leaves the animals with trouble learning to associate two events separated by tens of seconds.
“The traditional view has been that cells in the hippocampus keep up a level of continuous activity to associate such events,” said Dr. Ahmed, co-first author of the study. “Turning these cells off would thus disrupt learning.”
To test this view, the researchers imaged parts of the hippocampus of mice as the animals were exposed to two different stimuli (刺激物): a neutral (神经的) sound followed by a small but unpleasant puff of air. A fifteen-second delay separated the two events. The scientists repeated this experiment across several trials. Over time, the mice learned to associate the sound with the soon-to-follow puff of air. Using advanced microscopy, they recorded the activity of thousands of neurons (神经元) , a type of brain cell, in the animals’ hippocampus over the course of each trial for many days.
“We expected to see continuous neural activity that lasted during the fifteen-second gap, an indication of the hippocampus at work linking the auditory sound and the air puff,” said computational neuroscientist Stefano Fusi, PhD. “But when we began to analyze the data, we saw no such activity.” Instead, the neural activity recorded during the fifteen-second time gap was sparse (稀少的). Only a small number of neurons worked, and they did so seemingly at random.
To understand activity, they had to shift the way they analyzed data and use tools designed to make sense of random processes. Finally, the researchers discovered a complex pattern in the randomness: a style of mental computing that seems to be a remarkably efficient way that neurons store information.
“We were happy to see that the brain doesn’t maintain ongoing activity over all these seconds because that’s not the most efficient way to store information,” said Dr. Ahmed. “The brain seems to have a more efficient way to build this bridge.”
1.What can we learn about the hippocampus?
A.It weakens with the memory decline.
B.It is a brain region crucial for memory.
C.It serves as a tool of learning languages.
D.It is involved in the visual area of the brain.
2.According to the passage, the traditional view is that ______.
A.associations of events require continuous neural activity
B.animals have trouble learning to associate two events
C.neural activity can hardly be replaced by associations
D.a 15-second delay is enough to separate two events
3.The new study in mice indicates that ______.
A.continuous activity happens as expected
B.no neurons stay active at intervals of 15 seconds
C.a complex pattern helps the brain learn associations
D.neuronal information is stored in well-designed tools
4.From the last two paragraphs, we can infer that the findings ______.
A.inspire deeper explorations of disorders
B.provide evidence for language learning
C.build a bridge between different parts of the brain
D.help map some aspects of a person’s experiences
高三英语阅读理解困难题查看答案及解析
Man still has a lot to learn about the most powerful and complex part of his body — the brain.
It may be surprising to learn that it isn’t age that makes you lose your memory. The reason could be that you have a "lazy" memory, not an old one. Like your body your memory improves with exercise. Once given plenty of exercise, the brain keeps its power. Before discussing how to improve the memory, let’s look at how the brain works. There are two sides to the brain, the left and the right. The right side deals with the senses (what we see, hear, feel and smell). It's the creative and imaginative side. The left side is concerned with logic. It analyzes information and puts it in order.
Some recent research suggests that we remember everything that happens to us. The problem most of us has is recalling events. Most forgetting takes place immediately after learning. An hour after learning something new, more than 50% has been forgotten. After a month, 80% has been forgotten, and so on.
This shows revision is very important. If you revise new material you have learnt, you remember much more. So it's of vital importance to revise newly learned material often, and have frequent breaks. We best remember what we learn at the beginning of a learning period and at the point where we stop. After the break, revise what was learned before the break and then continue learning the new material. These breaks should happen every 20 or 45 minutes.
Other experiments have shown the brain needs time to "digest" what has been learned. The time necessary for this is 5 to 10 minutes. After the break, the memory will have absorbed what it has just learned, and more will be remembered. During this period it is important to exercise the right side of the brain, because the left side is used during the learning period. Therefore you should relax. Listening to music, breathing in fresh air, and looking at a picture are all ways of using the other side of the brain. So when you are studying alone, make a plan which shows when to have breaks and to revise newly learned material immediately before you begin studying again. If you do in this way, your memory will improve.
1.According to the text, you lose your memory by ________.
A. getting too old B. hardly using your brain
C. working too hard D. using your brain too much
2.To fight forgetting effectively, we're advised to ________.
A. go back to what was learned regularly
B. break down materials into small pieces
C. focus on both ends of a learning period
D. take breaks to give the brain a good rest
3. During the learning process the brain need breaks to ________.
A. use the right side of the brain
B. revise newly learnt materials
C. take in what has been learnt
D. relax the left side of the brain
4.Where is this text most probably taken from?
A. Science fictions. B. Students’ literature.
C. An advertisement. D. A science report.
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
Man still has a lot to learn about the most powerful and complex part of his body — the brain.
It may be surprising to learn that it isn’t age that makes you lose your memory. The reason could be that you have a "lazy" memory, not an old one. Like your body your memory improves with exercise. Once given plenty of exercise, the brain keeps its power. Before discussing how to improve the memory, let’s look at how the brain works. There are two sides to the brain, the left and the right. The right side deals with the senses (what we see, hear, feel and smell). It's the creative and imaginative side. The left side is concerned with logic. It analyzes information and puts it in order.
Some recent research suggests that we remember everything that happens to us. The problem most of us has is recalling events. Most forgetting takes place immediately after learning. An hour after learning something new, more than 50% has been forgotten. After a month, 80% has been forgotten, and so on.
This shows revision is very important. If you revise new material you have learnt, you remember much more. So it's of vital importance to revise newly learned material often, and have frequent breaks. We best remember what we learn at the beginning of a learning period and at the point where we stop. After the break, revise what was learned before the break and then continue learning the new material. These breaks should happen every 20 or 45 minutes.
Other experiments have shown the brain needs time to "digest" what has been learned. The time necessary for this is 5 to 10 minutes. After the break, the memory will have absorbed what it has just learned, and more will be remembered. During this period it is important to exercise the right side of the brain, because the left side is used during the learning period. Therefore you should relax. Listening to music, breathing in fresh air, and looking at a picture are all ways of using the other side of the brain. So when you are studying alone, make a plan which shows when to have breaks and to revise newly learned material immediately before you begin studying again. If you do in this way, your memory will improve.
1.According to the text, you lose your memory by ________.
A. getting too old B. hardly using your brain
C. working too hard D. using your brain too much
2.To fight forgetting effectively, we're advised to ________.
A. go back to what was learned regularly
B. break down materials into small pieces
C. focus on both ends of a learning period
D. take breaks to give the brain a good rest
3. During the learning process the brain need breaks to ________.
A. use the right side of the brain
B. revise newly learnt materials
C. take in what has been learnt
D. relax the left side of the brain
4.Where is this text most probably taken from?
A. Science fictions. B. Students’ literature.
C. An advertisement. D. A science report.
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
Dyslexia is a problem that restricts the ability to recognize words and connect sounds with letters when people read. People with this learning disorder may also have problems when they write. Dyslexia is not related to eyesight or intelligence. The problem involves areas of the brain that process language. Brain scientists are studying whether they can predict which young children may struggle with reading to provide them with early help. John Gabrieli at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology is leading the study of five-year-olds in about twenty schools in the Boston area.
They studied in the schools with kindergartens．And for all the children joining in the study, they give them a brief set of paper-and-pencil tests to look at which children appear to be at some risk for struggling to read. So far, fifty of them have been examined in a scanner, a special machine, to show brain activity. Written tests are not always able to identify dyslexia or other problems, while brain scans may offer a more scientific way to identify problems. And with reading problems, early identification is important. When it comes to helping children overcome reading difficulties, the younger the child, the more effective they are.
Reading problems are not usually identified until a child is in the third or fourth grade. The later children are recognized as poor readers，the less treatment can help. And, as Professor Gabrieli points out, poor reading can make education a struggle. Reading is everything. Even math and science have textbooks.
While the children are given tasks related to reading, the brain scans measure the extent to which certain parts of the brain become active while the children do the work. The scientists say they are pleased with early results from the study, but have a long way to go.
1. Dyslexia affects the part of brain concerning ________.
A. eyesight B. intelligence
C. language D. emotion
2. Dyslexia problems are more likely to be identified through ________.
A. speech contests
B. reading efficiency
C. listening comprehension
D. brain scans
3.According to the passage, which of the followings has the best time to overcome reading difficulties?
A. Tom, a boy in the kindergarten.
B. Kate, a high school leaver.
C. Jane, a primary school student.
D. Steve, a man in his thirties.
4. What is the passage mainly about?
A. An effective way to identity Dyslexia at an early stage.
B. A learning disorder involving one’s intelligence.
C. Dyslexia — a problem affecting one’s reading and writing.
D. A possible solution to the problems related to Dyslexia.
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
Dyslexia is a problem that restricts the ability to recognize words and connect sounds with letters when people read. People with this learning disorder may also have problems when they write. Dyslexia is not related to eyesight or intelligence. The problem involves areas of the brain that process language. Brain scientists are studying whether they can predict which young children may struggle with reading to provide them with early help. John Gabrieli at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology is leading the study of five-year-olds in about twenty schools in the Boston area.
They studied in the schools with kindergartens. And for all the children joining in the study, they give them a brief set of paper-and-pencil tests to look at which children appear to be at some risk for struggling to read. So far, fifty of them have been examined in a scanner, a special machine, to show brain activity. Written tests are not always able to identify dyslexia or other problems, while brain scans may offer a more scientific way to identify problems. And with reading problems, early identification is important. When it comes to helping children overcome reading difficulties, the younger the child, the more effective they are.
Reading problems are not usually identified until a child is in the third or fourth grade. The later children are recognized as poor readers, the less treatment can help. And, as Professor Gabrieli points out, poor reading can make education a struggle. Reading is everything. Even math and science have textbooks.
While the children are given tasks related to reading, the brain scans measure the extent to which certain parts of the brain become active while the children do the work. The scientists say they are pleased with early results from the study, but have a long way to go.
1.Dyslexia affects the part of brain concerning ________.
A. eyesight B. intelligence C. language D. emotion
2.Dyslexia problems are more likely to be identified through ________.
A. speech contests B. reading efficiency
C. listening comprehension D. brain scans
3.According to the passage, which of the followings has the best time to overcome reading difficulties?
A. Tom, a boy in the kindergarten.
B. Kate, a high school leaver.
C. Jane, a primary school student.
D. Steve, a man in his thirties.
4.What is the passage mainly about?
A. An effective way to identity Dyslexia at an early stage.
B. A learning disorder involving one’s intelligence.
C. Dyslexia — a problem affecting one’s reading and writing.
D. A possible solution to the problems related to Dyslexia.
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
Dyslexia is a problem that interferes (干扰) with the ability to recognize words and connect sounds with letters when people read. People with this learning disorder may also have problems when they write. Dyslexia is not related to eyesight or intelligence. The problem involves (涉及)areas of the brain that process language.
Brain scientists are studying whether they can predict which young children may struggle with reading, in order to provide early help. John Gabrieli is leading a study of five-year-olds in about twenty schools. He says, “We partner with schools that have kindergartens. What we do is, for all the children whose parents permit them to participate, we give them a brief set of paper-and-pencil tests to look at which children appear to be at some risk for struggling to read.
So far, fifty of the kindergartners have been examined in a machine that shows brain activity. The scanner uses a high-energy magnetic (有磁性的) field and radio waves to “look” inside the body. Written tests which are often used in previous studies are not always able to identify dyslexia or other problems. Professor Gabrieli says, “Brain scans may offer a more scientific way to identify problems.
And with reading problems, early identification is important. Reading problems are not usually identified until a child is in the third or fourth grade. The later children are recognized as poor readers, the less these interventions can help. And, as Professor Gabrieli points out, poor reading can make education a struggle. Reading is everything. Even math and science require one to read textbooks.
1.What do we know about Dyslexia?
A.It results in poor eyesight.
B.It is related to brain activity.
C.It only causes reading difficulty.
D.It has an influence on intelligence.
2.What does the underlined word “interventions” in the last paragraph probably mean?
A.Approaches. B.Researches.
C.Instructions. D.Treatments.
3.How is Professor Gabrieli’s study different from early ones?
A.It is scientifically based.
B.It focuses on written tests.
C.It examines children’s brains.
D.It needs parents’ participation.
4.What can be a suitable title for the text?
A.Dyslexia – a Learning Disorder Involving Intelligence
B.Dyslexia – a Problem Relating to Kindergartners
C.A Way Identifying Dyslexia at an Early Stage
D.A Machine Showing Brain Development
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
Just listen
I suspect that the most basic and powerful way to connect to another person is to listen. Just listen. Perhaps the most important thing we ever give each other is our1, and especially if it’s given from the 2. When people are talking, there’s no need to do anything but 3them. Just take them 4. Listen to what they’re saying. Care about it. Most times caring about it is even more important than5it.
One of my patients told me that when she 6to tell her story, people often7to tell her that they had once had something just like that happen to her. Subtly her pain became a story about themselves. 8she stopped talking to most people. It was just too 9. We connect through listening. When we interrupt what someone is saying to let them know that we understand, we move the 10of attention to ourselves. But when we listen, they know we care.
I have ever learned to 11to someone crying by just listening. In the old days I used to reach for the tissues(纸巾)12I realized that passing a person a tissue may be just another way to shut them13, to take them out of their14of sadness and pain. Now I just listen. When they have cried all they need to cry, they find me there 15them.
This 16thing has not been that easy to learn. It certainly went against everything I had been 17since I was very young at school. I thought people listened only because they were too 18to speak or did not know the answer. A loving silence often has far more 19to connect than the most well-intentioned 20.
1.A．introduction B．instruction C．attention D．relaxation
2.A．head B．memory C．mind D．heart
3.A．talk to B．listen to C．object to D．stick to
4.A．in B．up C．off D．away
5.A．denying B．remembering C．questioning D．understanding
6.A．managed B．tried C．hoped D．expected
7.A．encouraged B．interrupted C．discouraged D．urged
8.A．Eventually B．Immediately C．Completely D．Especially
9.A．impolite B．meaningless C．lonely D．selfish
10.A．middle B．focus C．center D．choice
11.A．respond B．compare C．link D．regret
12.A．unless B．if C．until D．when
13.A．down B．away C．in D．off
14.A．experiment B．mixture C．judgment D．experience
15.A．with B．against C．for D．among
16.A．complex B．simple C．complicated D．single
17.A．mentioned B．published C．taught D．proved
18.A．shy B．greedy C．active D．proud
19.A．strength B．energy C．power D．force
20.A．gestures B．praise C．criticism D．words
高三英语完形填空中等难度题查看答案及解析
The use of several senses gives the brain more connections and associations, making it easier ______ information later, which assists memory and learning.
A. find B. finding C. found D. to find
高三英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析
Nowadays，the Internet，with its ability to connect people throughout the world，is changing the way people learn languages．There is still no way to avoid the hard work through vocabulary lists and grammar rules，but the books，tapes and even CDs are being replaced by email, video chat and social networks．
Livemocha, a Seattle company, has created a website devoted to helping people learn more than 38 languages by exchanging messages over the Internet and then correcting each other’s messages. The lessons，whether they are flashcards，quizzes，audio recordings or written and spoken essays，are delivered through the Intemet．
Michael Schutzler, Livemocha's chief executive(主管), says the website’s advantage is the ability to practicel with a real person. “The great irony(讽刺)is that even if you have learned a foreign language in the classroom for years，you don’t have confidefice to go into a restaurant and have a conversation with a foreigner,"he said．The casual connection with real people throughout the world, however brief, are not just fun and surprising but show more about how the language is really used．
Livemocha is now experimenting with a variety of ways that resemble the games on other social websites to motivate people．The flashcard exercises，for instance，are scored, and the totals earned by studying and teaching appear on the users’front page．
Besides，each person can set up a profile(简历)which includes a short description of his age，location and what language he would like to learn．Therefore，if you want to study one language，you will easily find many people who are fluent in it．Andl an email or two is all it takes to find a study partner．
There are more and more companies like Livemocha offeritig online language learning to students throughout the world. And instead of merely helping people practice different languages，they also enable people to share interests and make new friends.
1.For what purpose did Livemocha create the website?
A．To offer new ways of language learning．
B．To make an advertisement for their company．
C．To share interests and make new friends．
D．To tell his inspiring story to more people．
2.What is the advantage of the Internet language learning?
A．Books，tapes and even CDs are completely out of use．
B．Leamers can practice languages with real people．
C．People can learn more than 38 languages in all.
D．There is no need to learn vocabulary and grammar．
3.Why does the writer give us the example of flashcard exercise in Paragraph 4?
A．To show what Livemocha is doing to inspire website users．
B．To introduce how Livemocha scores the website users’ work.
C．To explain why Livemocha experiments with other social websites．
D．To tell what Livemocha prepares for the front page of the website．
4.How can one find a study partner on Livemocha?
A．He needs to set up a profile about his past experience．
B．He should deliver his written essays to the website.
C．He needs to give lessons over the Internet．
D．He can select suitable people and email them．
5.What can be inferred from the last paragraph?
A．Livemocha will open more branch companies．
B．Online learners can practice languages free of charge.
C．More learners will turn to online language learning．
D．Livemocha will be turned into a dating website．
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析